Station-indicator.



J. E. OLVIS.

STATION INDICATOR.

APPLICATION mu; AUG-30.1915.

Patented Oct. 24, 1916.

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witnesses J. E. OLVIS.

STATION INDICATOR.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-30. I915.

1,202,06. Patented Oct. 24,1916.

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J. E] OLVlS.

,1 STATION INDICATOR.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.30. ms.

ifimfififin Patented Oct 24,1916.

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STATION INDICATOR. APPLICATION FILED AUG.30. I915.

1 2G2 6 Patented Oct. 24, 1916.

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STATIONJNDICATOR.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

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.apnlicatien filed August 30, 1915. Serial No. 47,971.

1 b all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMns E. Owls, a citizen of the United States,residing at Philadelphia, in the county ofPhiladelphia and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inStation-indicators, oi which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in station indicators, and mereparticulariy to an indicator desi ned for use on street cars and thelike in which an impro ed construction of curtain is moved electricallyto in.- dicate the streets along the route of the car.

A further object is to provide in moved means for reversing thedirection. or move ment of the curtain, which means is entirelyautomatic, and takes place at both ends of the route.

A further object is to provide an. electrically operated mechanism ofthe character described with an improved construction and arrangement ofpolarity reversing switch, and provide-improved means for controllingthe electric circuit to the motor so as to move the curtain a uniformdistance at each operation.

A further ob ect 15 to provide an ind cator of the character describedhaving an electric motor which causes the operation oi? the curtain, andwhich is controlled by a manually operated switch intended to beoperated. by the conductor to momentarily close the electric circuitincluding the motor and a source of electricity, and provide amechanically controlled circuit closer, which maintains the circuitclosed for a time sutficient to insure the movement of the curtain thenecessary distance, and then is me chanically operated to open thecircuit.

A further object is to provide an improved construction of curtain inwhich flexible sections are removable so as to allow an interchange ofsections for varying the names of streets, advertising matter, etc. Afurther object is to provide a street car indicator which will embody inits construction many novel features, and which is adapted for use instreet cars they are now made. and which will most eiiiciently per"ormthe functions for which it is intended.

lVith these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certainnovel features of construction and combinations and arrangements ofparts as will be more fully the line l313 Ill.

hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims. i

In the accompanying drawingsi Figure l s a v 1ew.1n front elevationillustrating my improved streetcar indicator in a box such as commonlyused in the ends of street cars containing printed matter to indicatecertam desirable information for the traveling public. Fig. 2 is a viewin frontelevation on an enlarged scale showing only a frag-5 merit ofthe box. Fig. is a top plan view of the mechanism. Figs. 4. and 5 areviews of op'gosite ends of Fig. Fig. 6 is an enlarged view in verticalsection through the center of the mechanism. Fig. 7 is an en largeddetail view partly in transverse section illustrating one of the levershifting brackets. Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view partly in section andpartly in elevation, the section being taken on the line 88 of Fit 7.Fig. is a diagrammatic view illustrat+ 111g the electric circuit. Fig.10 IS a frag-1 mentary view in front elevation of my improved curtain.Fig. 11 is an enlarged fragmentary detail view partly in elevation andpartly in section illustrating the manner of connecting the curtain oneto the carryingtapes the sides of the curtain Fig. 12 is a view insection the iine 12 412- of Fig". 11, and 13 is a view in section on 1represents a box such as is commonly found in street cars, and whichcontains printed matter setting: forth information desirable for thetraveling public, and while my inventionis not limited to any such box,

1 have indicated the same in connection therewith to show that it isadapted for use without altering the ordinary car construction. I

When my improvements are installed. it

is my purpose to provide a central transparent space 2 through which myimproved curtain 3 can be seen, and as the box fronts are ordinarilyhmged'as shown in Fig. 2,

' which they are adapted to be wound. I, These drums 6 and 7 are securedupon shafts 8 and 9 respectively, and the'latter at one end of the frameare provided with pinions 10 my improved mechanism is readily accessi-.

iii

shaft 24. This shaft 24 is provided with a i 1 is mounted to pivothorizontally and is cen vided with springs 14, which tend always toturn. the gears in a direction to. wind the curtains on the respectivedrums 6 and 7 so that ,While the curtain is being wound upon onedrum,the spring of the other drum winding ,gear will be wound up and vice Q1versa. 0

These springs, therefore, perform the function of winding the curtain onthe' "drums as permitted, and also maintaining the curtain taut at alltimes.

The curtain in its passage from one drum.

- 'z to the other passes over two rolls and 16 sprocket teeth 17 whichproject through eye-,

respectively. The upper roll 15 constitutes the driver, and both rollsare provided with lets 18 in the curtain and hold'the curtain .in properposition for display, and also in- 20,. 7

sure a proper movement of the curtain. The rolls 15 and 16 are securedon shafts 19 and 20 respectively, shaft 19 constituting the drive shaftand provided on one end with a gear wheel 21 which is connected by an,idler 22 with the gear wheel ,23 on a worm wheel 25 driven by a worm 26on a shaft 27 The shaft 27 is driven by an electric motor 28 to impartthe necessary movement to the curtains A stationary contact29 is adaptedto be engaged by a'movable contact 30, the latter constituting a leverwhich is pivotally supported between itsends on an upright 31.

, One end of the lever 30 is engaged by a crank arm 32 on the shaft 24,and is moved by said crank arm to break or open the electric circuit.The crank arm 32 is provided with a roller 33 in its free end 'to engagethe lever 30 and reduce friction to a minimum.

On topof theframe 5, or elsewhere as most desirable, I locate a polarityreversing switch 34 which comprises a stationary member 35 and -.asliding'member 36. The

stationary member 35 has two contacts 37 and 38 insulated from eachother, while the member 36 has two insulated contacts 39 which'arc inthe form of springs, and which are adaptedto reverse the polarity of themotor when moved from one position to the bther asis readilyunderstood.-

5 and operated by a lever 42. This lever 42 trally supported on abracket 43, so that both ends of the lever swing'in the are of-a causethe latter to move longitudinally as will be hereinafter explained Acoiled spring' 45 is'connected at one end to the frame 5, and at .its;.othe r nd t'o they lever 42,- and is adapted,to; t

but prevents bangs and jars.

iei ever from one side to the other after the forward endof the lever ismoved past its center, so that the operation of the polarity reversingswitch is instantaneous.

To relieve the shock of contact of the lever with one of the shoulders44, I provide a train of gearing 46, one of the gears of the trainmeshing with a rack 47 on bar 40. This train of gearing operates agovernor 48, and permits the bar 40 to move quickly,

The lever 42 is operated to reverse the polarity of the motor .when thecurtain reaches its respective display ends, which of course, will be atthe respective ends of the route of the car.

To move the lever, I provide a screw 49 I supported longitudinally ontop of the frame 5,'and having a gear wheel 50 on one end in mesh withthe gear wheel 21 above referred to.

Sliding frames 51 are mounted to slide on the top of frame 5, and aresecured to nuts 52 located onthe screw 49, so that the turn- When one ofthe frames 51 engages the end of ,the lever 42, it will causethe latterter of its fulcrum, or pivot, when the spring 44 Wlll continue thB'II1OV8I'I16I1t' suliicient to to swing to a point slightly beyond thecenreverse the polarity switch as above explained, and the train of gearing46 will operate as a. shock absorberin this movement.-

A'fiXed bracket 53 is secured to frame 5, and under thisbracketthe'forward end of lever 42 is movable, and is provided with aroller 54 to engage the bracket. The bracket operates to hold the leverin its horizontal position and overcomeany upward tendency of its freeend due to the pull of the spring 45. 1

On the end of shaft 19, opposite to the end carrying gear 21, I locate apinion 55 and I inay of course-add any other mechanism desired for thepurpose, but these gears answer for illustration my intention to preventany possibility of the momentum of the motor carrying the curtain beyonda desired movement, and while in some cases 'no brake mechanism isnecessary, in others it may be found desirable, and .I consider myselfat liberty to employ any such de sired; i 4

In Figs. 10, 11, 12, and 13, I illustrate the details-of myimprovedcurtain 3, which comprises parallel tapes 57 supporting rein mesh with alarge gear wheel 56. This r 0 pinion 55 and gear 56. represents a brake,l 'The member 36 1s secured to a slidlng bar.

40 mounted to move in guides 41 on frame r cesses movable sections 58and 59 between them. These sections 58 and 59 contain the names ofstreets and advertising matter respectively, and they are preferably ofsome flexible material having steel strips 60 secured in 'their edgeswith the ends of the steel strips projecting beyond the sections andadapted to be inserted in the tapes 5? at the ends of the curtain.'lhese tapes 5? each constitute a steel band 61 having a flexiblecovering sheet 62, and the eyelets 18 above re.- .ferred to not onlyform openings for the reception of the sprocket teeth 17, but they alsosecurethe flexible covering 62 to the steel tapes 61 and operate asspacing devices between which. the steel strips '60 of sections 58 andoperate this circuit closing means, I have shown an ordinary push button63 which he may operate with hi hands or feet, and

in Fig. 9- I illustrate my improved electric circuit.

64,65, and 66 are binding posts, and 67 and 68 are fuses which areinserted for safety sake.

69 is anelectricity source having a wire 70 connecting one side'thereofwith binding post 64, and a wire 71 connecting the other side thereofwith binding post 66.;

A wire-7 2 between the ends of which fuse 67 is located,.connectsbinding post as with one pole 73 of motor 28, and also connects withcontact 38 of the polarity reversing switch.. 4

' A wire 74 connected to the other contact 37 of the polarity reversingswitch is con-- nested to'the pole 75 of motor 28, and to the-bindingpost '65 including between its ends-;-:'the fuse 68. A wire 76 connectsbind-' ing post 66 with the movable contact lever 30, and a wire 7'7connects the stationary contact 29-with binding post 65. A wire 78'connects a push button 63 with binding post 65-, and a wire 79 connectsthe button 63 with the binding post 66.

When the parts "are at rest, the electric circuit is broken by thebutton and by the contact lever 36.

.When the button 63 cuit is closed asiolloreztricity source 69, throughex post 64, wire 72, rnctor p le contacts 39', contact 32 75, bindingpost 65, w 63, wire 7 9, binding post 66, wire (1, been; to theelectricity source 69. As soonv as the motor begins to-opcrate, shaftwill c ntact 68.,

and move the arm a distance for enough parallel to the rolls train, am

to let the lever 30 fall. by gravity engaging thestationary contact 29.As the conductor presses the button for an instant and then releases thesame, the circuit will be mai'n tained closed by the contacts29 and 30as followss li rom the electricity source 69, through wire Z 0, bindingpost 64," wire 72, motor pole 73, contact 38, contacts 39, contact 37,wire 75%, motor pole 75, binding post 65, wire 77., contact 29, contact30, wire 76, binding post 66; and wire TL'back to the electricity source69., The circuit will remain closed until the crank arin 32 engageslever 30 and elevates the same to break the circuit as shown clearly inig. 9.

The movement of the parts is so proportioned that the curtainis moved anequal distance at each operatiom'but-if it is desired to continuouslymove the curtain, it is simply, necessary for the conductor to maintainthe ircuit closer by a continued pressure on button,

Various slight cha: gee mi ht be made in the general form andarrangement of parts described without departingfrom my invention, andhence it do not limit myself to the precise details set forth, butconsider myself liberty make such changes and alterations as fairly fallwithin the spirit andscope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desiretosecure by Letters Patent is:

11 A street car indicator, comprising a frame, a pair of spring-operatedrolls, a curtain mounted to eve from one roll onto the other, a driveroll engaging the curtain, an electric motor, 5;? gear train connectingthe drive roll and .riotor, a screw located :nd turned off the geardevices on. the screw trolling the; circuit to the vznotor,substantiallyas described.

2. A street car indicator, comprising a frame, a. pair ofspring-operated rolls, a

lever controlling the circuit to the motor,

said lever moved. by engagement with the frames, substantially asdescribed.

A street car indicator, comprising Ia frar e, a pair of spring-operatedrolls, a

curtain mounted to move from one roll onto the other, a drive rollengaging the curtain, motor, a gear train connecting v and motor, screwlocated parallel to rolls turned by the gear train, frames havingthreaded engagement with the screw and movable thereby, a

' tyreversing switch included in cirthe other, a drive roll engaging thecurtain,

an electric motor, a gear train connecting the drive roll and motor, ascrew located parallel to the rolls and turned by the gear train, frameshaving threaded engagement with the screw and movable thereby, apolarity reversing switch included in circuit with the motor, a pivotedlever, a spring holding the pivoted lever in normal position, saidpivoted lever adapted to be engaged by the frames to shift the leverfrom one normal position to another, and a shock absorber cushioning themovement of the lever, substantially as described.

5. A street car indicator, comprising a frame, a pair ofspring-pressedrolls in the frame, a curtain secured at its respective ends to saidrolls and having openings in its edges, a pair of rolls supported in theframe and having teeth thereon projecting through the openings in thecurtain, an electric motor, a gear train connecting the motor with oneof said last-mentioned rolls, a polarity reversing switch included in anelectric circuit with said motor, a pivoted lever constructed to movethe switch, a spring holding the lever in either of two extremepositions, and means for automatically reversing said lever,substantially as described.

6.'A street car indicator, comprising a frame, a pair of, spring-pressedrolls in the frame, a curtain secured at its respective ends to saidrolls ,and having openings in its edges; a pair of rolls supported inthe frame and having teeth thereon projecting through the openings inthe curtain, an electric motor, a gear train connecting the motor withone of said last-mentioned rolls, a polarity reversing switch includedin an electric circuit with-said motor, a screw turned by the gear trainand supported by the frame, devices movable on the screw, a spring-heldlever moved from one spring held position to another, and said leveradapted to control the movement of the switch, substantially asdescribed.

7. A street car indicator, comprising a frame, a pair of sprmgoperatedrolls, a curtitlILIDOUIItBCl to move from one roll onto the.

other, a drive roll engaging the curtain, an electric motor,.a geartrain connecting the drive roll and motor, a screw located parallel tothe rolls and turned by the gear train, devices on the screw controllingthe circuit to the motor, and a mechanical cirnaoasoe drive roll andmotor, a screw located parallel to the rolls and turned by the geartrain, frames having threaded engagement with the screw and movablethereby, a lever controlling the circuit to the motor, said lever movedby engagement with the frames, and a mechanical circuit breaker operatedby the gear train whereby the motor is stopped after the gear train hasmoved a pre-determined distance, substantially as described.

9. A street car indicator, comprising a frame, a pair of sprin -operatedrolls, a curtain mounted tomove from one roll onto the other, a driveroll engaging the curtain, .an electric motor,-a gear train connectingthe drive roll and motor, a screw located parallel to the rolls andturned by the gear train, frames having threaded engagement with thescrew and movable thereby, a polarity reversing switch included incircuit with the motor, a pivoted lever, spring holding the pivotedlever in normal'position, and said pivoted lever adapted to be engagedby the frames to shift the lever from one normal position to another,and a mechanical circuit breaker operated by the gear train whereby themotor is stopped after the gear train has moved a predetermineddistance, substantially as described.

10. A street car indicator, comprising a frame, a pair ofspring-operated rolls, a curtain mounted to move from one roll. ontotheother, a drive roll engaging the curtain, an electric motor, a geartrain connecting the drive roll and motor, a screw located parallel tothe rolls and turned by the gear train, frames having threadedengagement with the screw and movable thereby, a polarity reversingswitch included in circuit with the motor, a pivotedlever, a springholding the pivoted lever in normal position, said pivoted lever adaptedto beengaged by the frames to shift the lever from' one normal positiontoanother, a shock absorber cushioning the movement of the lever, 120and a mechanical circuit breaker operated by the gear train whereby themotor is stopped after the gear train has moved a pre-determineddistance, substantially as described.

11. A street car indicator, comprising a frame, a curtain supported bythe frame, a

a screw turned by the motor, frames moved 13o by the screw, apivotedlever adapted to be,

' moved by the said frames, a spring engaging the lever and causing thesame to complete a pre-determined movement after being moved by one ofsaidframes, a sliding bar operated by"the lever, a motor reversingmechanism at on'e end of the bar, and a shock absorber at the other endof thebar,

substantially as described. I p

12. A curtain of the character described, comprising tapes havingopenings therein,

and removable sections connecting the tapes,v

said sections consisting of flexible material having elastic strips inthe edges thereof projecting beyohdithe ends bf the'sections 15 andadapted to engage the 'said tapes, said tapes eachconsisting of asteel'band with a

